JP2009262761A - Grill fitting structure of vehicle bumper - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a grill fitting structure of a vehicle bumper can achieve the excellent fitting work of fitting a synthetic resin-made grill to an opening of a bumper of a vehicle so as to close it, and bring about a grill fitting state without any play or the detachment of the grill. <P>SOLUTION: In a vehicular bumper 1, a tongue-shaped locking piece 3 having a claw 31 projected to the back side and erected on its fore end is formed on a peripheral edge of an opening 10. Meanwhile, a square engagement hole 4 corresponding to the locking piece 3 is formed at an outer peripheral part 20 of a grill 2. A pair of right and left slits 43, 43 extending in the right-to-left direction from both sides in the width direction of the engagement hole 4 are formed. When the locking piece 3 is press-fitted in the engagement hole 4, the slits 43, 43 are expanded to increase the vertical width of the engagement hole 3, and when the claw 31 passes through the opening 10, the vertical width of the engagement hole 10 is restored to an original width. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mounting structure for a synthetic resin grill that is mounted so as to close an opening provided in a bumper of a vehicle.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 5, some automobile bumpers 1 made of synthetic resin are provided with an opening 10 in a lower portion and a lattice-shaped synthetic resin lower grill 2 attached so as to be closed from the back side. . In this type of lower grill 2, a plurality of locations on the outer peripheral portion 20 are locked and fixed to the periphery of the opening 10 (reference numeral 3 in FIG. 5). Note that reference numerals 25 and 26 in FIG. 5 denote a horizontal plate and a vertical plate forming a lattice shape of the lower grill 2.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the opening 10 of the bumper 1 protrudes in the shape of a tongue from the peripheral edge 11 (showing the lower edge) toward the back side, and has a claw portion 31 at the tip. A piece 3 is provided.
The outer peripheral portion 20 of the lower grill 2 has a U-shaped cross section with an inner wall portion 21, an outer wall portion 22, and a vertical wall portion 23 connecting the inner wall portion 21, and the engagement hole 4 in the vertical wall portion 23 corresponding to the locking piece 3. Is provided.

The lower grill 2 is pushed into the opening 10 from the back side of the bumper 1 and presses the locking piece 3 into the engagement hole 4 so that the claw portion 31 is locked to the rear edge of the inner wall portion 21 that is the upper edge of the engagement hole 4. Installed.
The engagement hole 4 is provided with a pair of abutment ribs 45, 45 that stand up from the outer wall portion 22 and support the locking piece 3, and thereby, the claw portion 31 of the locking piece 3 and the rear edge of the inner wall portion 21. The locking is prevented from coming off.

By the way, in the mounting structure of the grill that locks a plurality of locations along the periphery of the opening 10 of the bumper 1, the resistance at the time of press-fitting each locking piece 3 into the engagement hole 4 is integrated, and the grill 2 to the bumper 1 is combined. The mounting load of the mounting work increases. Therefore, in the conventional mounting structure, the distance between the inner wall portion 21 and the contact rib 45 is set to be slightly smaller than the thickness of the claw portion 31 of the locking piece 3 so as to reduce the resistance during the press-fitting.
However, in this case, there is a problem that the hook of the claw portion 31 to the engagement hole 4 is shallow, the back grill 2 is rattled, and the lock between the claw portion 31 and the engagement hole 4 may be released.

Moreover, as described in Patent Document 1 below, the locking piece provided on one member projects into one side at an intermediate position of the locking piece as a structure in which the locking piece is press-fitted into the engagement hole of the counterpart member. It has been proposed to provide a claw portion and provide a U-shaped slit surrounding three sides of the claw portion so that the claw portion is elastically deformed when pressed into the engagement hole.
Since the claw portion and the slit surrounding it are provided at the intermediate position of the locking piece, the structure of the locking piece becomes complicated and the moldability of the locking piece is not good.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-200804 (FIGS. 6 and 7)

  Therefore, the present invention provides a mounting structure in which the grill is locked and fixed to the opening of the bumper so that the mounting load of the grill mounting work to the bumper can be reduced and the grille does not rattle or come off. The realization of the structure was made as an issue.

The present invention relates to a synthetic resin grille mounting structure that is fitted and locked to an opening formed in a bumper of a vehicle and closes the opening. A tongue-shaped locking piece provided with a claw portion that stands up is formed on the outer periphery of the grill, and a rectangular engagement hole corresponding to the locking piece is formed on the grill, and the grill is connected to the opening of the bumper. In the grille mounting structure of the bumper for a vehicle, which is fitted from the rear side to the engagement piece and is press-fitted into the engagement hole, the outer periphery of the grill is formed on both sides of the engagement hole in the width direction. A slit is provided that extends in the left-right direction and expands the engagement hole in the vertical direction when the locking piece is press-fitted into the engagement hole.
When the locking piece is press-fitted into the engagement hole, the slit is expanded and the engagement hole expands in the vertical direction, so that the press-fitting resistance of the locking piece can be reduced.

The locking piece is configured to lock the claw portion on either the upper or lower opening edge of the engagement hole, and the slits on both sides of the engagement hole are connected to the other opening edge of the engagement hole. It is formed in a direction extending to the left and right sides (claim 2).
By expanding the slit, the other opening edge is bent, the engagement hole is expanded, and the locking piece can be easily press-fitted.

The other opening edge of the engagement hole is provided with a pair of left and right abutment ribs that stand up with a distance from each other and extend in the insertion direction of the engagement piece and support the engagement piece that is press-fitted and locked. Tapers that facilitate the press-fitting of the engaging pieces when the engaging pieces are press-fitted into the engaging holes, respectively, at the front ends of the abutting ribs and the left and right end edges of the claw portions of the engaging pieces that oppose them. (Claim 3).
By making the front end of the abutment rib and the leading end edge of the locking piece tapered, it is easy to press-fit the locking piece into the engagement hole.

The grill includes a frame-shaped outer peripheral portion and a plurality of horizontal plates and vertical plates installed in a lattice shape therein, and the outer peripheral portion opens toward the front side at the inner wall portion, the outer wall portion, and the vertical wall portion. The cross section is almost U-shaped. The vertical wall portion is provided with the engagement hole whose vertical width extends over the entire vertical width of the vertical wall portion, and on the left and right sides of the engagement hole along the boundary between the outer wall portion and the vertical wall portion. The slit is formed, and an opening edge on the outer wall portion side of the engagement hole is formed with a shelf plate portion extending from the grill back side, and the abutting rib is provided from the outer wall portion to the shelf plate portion, The claw portion of the locking piece inserted into the engagement hole is locked to the opening edge of the engagement hole on the inner wall side (Claim 4).
This is suitable as a structure in which a locking piece of a bumper is press-fitted into an engagement hole formed in a vertical wall portion of the outer peripheral portion of the U-shaped grill.

An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the attachment of the lower grill 2 to the opening 10 formed in the lower center of the front bumper 1 made of synthetic resin for an automobile shown in FIG. 5 will be described.
The opening 10 of the front bumper 1 has a horizontally long rectangular shape.
The lower grill 2 is made of synthetic resin, and a frame-shaped outer peripheral portion 20 along the periphery of the opening 10 and a plurality of horizontal plates 25 and vertical plates 26 are integrally formed therein in a lattice shape. The lower grille 2 is attached with its outer peripheral portion 20 locked and fixed at a plurality of locations (reference numeral 3 in the figure) on the periphery of the opening 10.

Hereinafter, based on FIGS. 1 to 4, the structure will be described focusing on the locking and fixing portion along the lower edge of the opening 10 among the locking and fixing portions.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower end portion of the front bumper 1 constituting the lower edge 11 of the opening 10 has a substantially U-shaped cross section that opens rearward. On the lower edge 11 of the opening 10, a locking piece 3 that protrudes in a substantially horizontal tongue shape toward the rear and has a claw portion 31 at the tip is integrally formed.

The locking piece 3 is a plate-like shape that extends the lower end of the front bumper 1 rearward, and a claw portion 31 that is narrower than the tip of the locking piece 3 is formed at the center of the tip. The claw portion 31 has a thick wall shape that protrudes upward at a substantially right angle from the tip of the locking piece 3, and the upper end is formed in a substantially right triangle shape with a gradually decreasing thickness toward the rear of the bumper.
Further, the locking piece 3 is formed in a taper shape in which the lower sides of the left and right tip edges 32 on both sides of the claw portion 31 are directed obliquely upward to the rear.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the outer peripheral portion 20 of the lower grill 2 is composed of an inner wall portion 21 and an outer wall portion 22 which are arranged substantially in parallel with a space in the vertical direction and a vertical wall portion 23 which connects between these rear edges. The cross section is almost U-shaped.
Further, the outer peripheral portion 20 is formed with an engagement hole 4 penetrating the vertical wall portion 23 at a position corresponding to the locking piece 3.

  The engaging hole 4 has a rectangular shape, and the width thereof is slightly wider than the locking piece 3 so that the locking piece 3 can be inserted. The vertical dimension T1 of the engaging hole 4 is the inner wall portion 21 and the outer wall. The upper edge (one opening edge) 41 of the engagement hole 4 is composed of the rear edge of the inner wall 21 and the lower edge (the other opening edge) 42 is the outer wall. The rear edge of the portion 22 is configured.

  The vertical wall portion 23 is formed with a pair of left and right slits 43, 43 extending on both sides along the boundary between the outer wall portion 22 and the vertical wall portion 23 so that the lower edge 42 of the engagement hole 3 extends to the left and right sides. It is. The base ends of both the slits 43, 43 communicate with the engagement hole 4. The lengths of both slits 43 and 43 are set to about half of the width of the engagement hole 4.

  Further, a shelf plate portion 44 is formed on the rear side of the engagement hole 4 by extending the outer wall portion 22 rearward. The shelf plate portion 44 is set to have a width from the tip of one slit 43 to the tip of the other slit 43.

A pair of left and right vertically extending from the upper surface of the outer wall portion 22 and the shelf plate portion 44 to be spaced apart from each other at the left and right sides of the lower edge 42 of the engagement hole 4 and extending in the front-rear direction through the engagement hole 4. Plate-shaped abutting ribs 45, 45 are provided.
The height of the abutment ribs 45, 45 is such that the gap width T2 between their upper ends and the engagement hole 4 is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the plate thickness T3 of the locking piece 3, and includes the plate thickness T3. It is set smaller than the height dimension of the claw portion 1.
Further, the interval between the two abutment ribs 45 is set to be wider than the width of the claw portion 31 of the locking piece 3, and the claw portion 31 passes through the interval when the claw portion 31 is press-fitted into the engagement hole 4. I have to do it.

  Each of the abutment ribs 45, 45 has a front end set at a length starting from the front and rear intermediate position of the upper surface of the outer wall portion 22 and reaching the rear edge of the shelf plate portion 44. The front ends 46 of the abutment ribs 45 are formed in a taper shape corresponding to the left and right tips 32 32 of the locking piece 3 and inclined obliquely forward and downward at substantially the same inclination angle as these. .

The lower grill 2 is attached by being pushed into the opening 10 of the bumper 1 from the back side of the bumper 1.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 4A, at the initial stage, the tip of the locking piece 3 having the claw portion 31 enters the outer peripheral portion 20 of the lower grille 2 having a U-shaped cross section, and the locking piece 3 The left and right tip edges 32 abut against the front ends 46 of the contact ribs 45 on both sides.

By further pushing in, as shown in FIG. 4B, the leading edge 32 of the tapered locking piece 3 is pushed upward by the guidance of the front end 46 of the tapered abutment rib 45, The claw portion 31 comes into contact with the lower surface of the inner wall portion 21, and the locking piece 3 pushes the rear half portion of the outer wall portion 22 and the shelf plate portion 44 through the contact rib 45 by the reaction force from the inner wall portion 21. . As a result, the left and right slits 43, 43 of the engagement hole 4 are opened downward, whereby the rear half of the outer wall portion 22 that forms the lower edge of the engagement hole 4 and the shelf 44 are pushed downward integrally therewith. The gap between the abutment rib 45 and the upper edge of the opening of the engagement hole 4 is expanded (T20), and the tip of the locking piece 3 forming the claw portion 31 passes through the opening 10 without much resistance and proceeds further. .
When the claw portion 31 passes through the engagement hole 4, the outer wall portion 22 and the shelf plate portion 44 are restored, the abutment rib 45 supports the locking piece 3 from below, and the upper end of the claw portion 31 is the upper edge of the engagement hole 4. It is deeply locked to 41 and held in this state.

  The lower edge of the opening 10 of the bumper 1 and the lower edge of the outer peripheral portion 20 of the lower grill 1 are provided with a plurality of similar locking pieces 3 and engaging holes 4 at intervals, and the upper edge and outer periphery of the opening 10 are also provided. A plurality of locking pieces 3 and engaging holes 4 are provided on the upper edge of the portion 20 in the upside down direction, and these are press-fitted and locked together.

According to the present embodiment, the lower grill 2 is provided with slits 43, 43 on both the left and right sides of the engagement hole 4, so that the engagement hole 4 can be easily expanded vertically when the claw portion 31 of the latch 3 is press-fitted. Therefore, the resistance at the time of press-fitting can be reduced without increasing the vertical width of the merged hole more than necessary, and the pushing operation when the lower grill 2 is attached to the bumper 1 can be facilitated. Further, since the front end edges 32, 32 on both sides of the claw portion 31 of the locking piece 3 and the front ends 46, 46 of the abutting ribs 45, 45 facing each other are tapered, the mounting workability is further improved.
Further, the engagement of the claw portion 31 of the locking piece 3 to the opening edge 41 of the engagement hole 4 can be deepened, and the problem of looseness and locking of the lower grill 2 with respect to the bumper 1 can be solved.

Although the grill mounting structure according to the present invention is not illustrated, similar locking pieces and engagement holes are formed on the left and right opening side edges of the bumper opening and the left and right side edges of the outer periphery of the grille. Alternatively, press fitting may be used.
The grill mounting structure of the present invention is not limited to the lower grill, and may be used for mounting the main grill to the bumper.

The grill attachment structure of the present invention is shown and it is the exploded perspective view which expanded the principal part. It is sectional drawing which shows the latching state in the position which follows the II-II line | wire of FIG. It is a principal part enlarged front view of the said grill attachment structure. Corresponding to FIG. 2, FIG. 4A shows the press-fitting process of the engaging piece of the grill mounting structure into the engagement hole, FIG. 4A shows the initial press-fitting stage, and FIG. 4B shows the state during the press-fitting. It is explanatory drawing. It is the perspective view made into the partial cross section which shows the bumper and lower grille of the vehicle to which this invention is applied. It is sectional drawing of the conventional grille mounting structure in alignment with the VI-VI line of FIG. It is a front view of the conventional grill attachment structure shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Front bumper (bumper)
10 Opening 11 Lower edge (periphery)
2 Lower grill (grill)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Outer peripheral part 21 Inner wall part 22 Outer wall part 23 Vertical wall part 25 Horizontal board 26 Vertical board 3 Locking piece 31 Claw part 32 Tip edge 4 Engagement hole 41 Upper edge (one opening edge)
42 Lower edge (lower opening edge)
43, 43 Slit 44 Shelf 45, 45 Abutment rib 46 Front end

Claims (4)

A synthetic resin grille mounting structure that fits and locks into an opening formed in a bumper of a vehicle and closes the opening, and the bumper protrudes toward the rear side at the periphery of the opening and rises at the tip A tongue-shaped locking piece provided with a portion, and a rectangular engagement hole corresponding to the locking piece is provided on the outer periphery of the grill, and the grill is provided on the back side of the opening of the bumper. In the grille mounting structure of the bumper for a vehicle, which is fitted from the above, and the locking piece is press-fitted and locked into the engaging hole.
The outer periphery of the grill is provided with slits extending in the left-right direction from both sides of the engagement hole in the width direction, and expanding the engagement hole in the vertical direction when the locking piece is press-fitted into the engagement hole. A vehicle grill bumper mounting structure. The locking piece is configured to lock the claw portion on either one of the upper and lower opening edges of the engagement hole,
The grille mounting structure for a vehicle bumper according to claim 1, wherein the slits on both sides of the engagement hole are formed in a direction in which the other opening edge of the engagement hole extends to the left and right sides. The other opening edge of the engagement hole is provided with a pair of left and right abutment ribs that stand up with a distance from each other and extend in the insertion direction of the locking piece and support the locking piece that is press-fitted and locked,
Tapers that facilitate the press-fitting of the engaging pieces when the engaging pieces are press-fitted into the engaging holes, respectively, at the front ends of the abutting ribs and the left and right end edges of the claw portions of the engaging pieces that oppose them. The vehicle bumper grille mounting structure according to claim 2, which is formed in a shape. The grill includes a frame-shaped outer peripheral portion and a plurality of horizontal plates and vertical plates installed in a lattice shape therein, and the outer peripheral portion opens toward the front side at the inner wall portion, the outer wall portion, and the vertical wall portion. The cross section is almost U-shaped,
The vertical wall portion is provided with the engagement hole whose vertical width extends over the entire vertical width of the vertical wall portion, and on the left and right sides of the engagement hole along the boundary between the outer wall portion and the vertical wall portion. The slit is formed, and an opening edge on the outer wall portion side of the engagement hole is formed with a shelf plate portion extending from the grill back side, and the abutting rib is provided from the outer wall portion to the shelf plate portion, 4. The grille mounting structure for a vehicle bumper according to claim 3, wherein the claw portion of the locking piece inserted into the engagement hole is locked to the opening edge of the engagement hole on the inner wall side.

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